MLB Rumors

Brewers pitcher Mike Fiers' return to the rotation did not go as planned Saturday, as he gave up three home runs in a 5-2 loss to the Pirates.

Fiers did a good job keeping the Pirates off the basepaths, allowing five hits and no walks in four innings, but allowed a home run in three of the four innings. Fiers was tagged for four runs in the game, and he earned the loss in a 5-2 final.

Fiers struck out five batters and was pulled after throwing just 67 pitches. His ERA rose to 6.62, while his record fell to 1-3. He has now allowed 10 runs in nine innings over the course of two starts.

Fiers may not get another chance to start for the Brewers, as Kyle Lohse is aiming to return to the rotation Thursday against the Twins, which would be the next turn for Fiers.  

Giants catcher Buster Posey picked up three hits in five at-bats Saturday against the Rockies to extend his hitting streak to nine games. He also scored two runs in the game while raising his batting average to .312, a season high for the reigning MVP.

Giants center fielder Angel Pagan went 2 for 6 in Saturday's extra-innings game against the Rockies, hitting an inside-the-park home run in the bottom of the 10th to win the game for the Giants.

It was Pagan's third home run of the year, and he's on a five-game hitting streak. He has a .262 batting average on the season.

Pirates starting pitcher Jeff Locke continued his impressive start to the season Saturday, as he pushed his record to 5-1 with a win over the Brewers.

Locke baffled Brewers hitters, allowing just three hits over six shutout innings. He allowed runners to reach second base in each of the first two innings, but never again through the rest of the outing. He walked three and struck out seven, while throwing 60 of 100 pitches for strikes.

Locke has thrown two scoreless outings in a row, with a 14-inning scoreless streak. He has a 2.45 ERA and 1.14 WHIP on the season, while going 5-1 in 10 starts, without a loss in nine straight.

He will try to keep his unbeaten streak going in his next start, scheduled for Thursday against the Tigers at home. 

Making his first appearance since Tuesday due to tightness in his groin, Rockies closer Rafael Betancourt suffered his first blown save of the year, walking a batter before allowing a game-ending inside-the-park home run.

Betancourt (1-2) suffered his second loss in May and saw his ERA rise to 2.55 after getting one out before the game-winning hit.

Twins closer Glen Perkins returned to action Saturday for the first time since blowing a save Tuesday at Atlanta. Perkins worked around a one-out infield single to strike out one in a scoreless ninth to secure a 3-2 win over the Tigers.

It was Perkins' ninth save. Perkins, who has a 3.24 ERA, has allowed two runs over his last eight innings. He has struck 13 and walked one over that span.

Rockies starting pitcher Juan Nicasio surrendered two earned runs on seven hits and a walk in five innings Saturday against the Giants, striking out two while not factoring into the decision.

Nicaso threw just 86 pitches Saturday after throwing between 89 and 94 pitches in his previous four starts in May. He's slated to face the Astros at home Thursday.

Reds starting pitcher Homer Bailey was solid again Saturday against the Cubs as he evened his record at 3-3 with a win.

Bailey needed 116 pitches to get through six innings, but allowed just two runs on five hits and three walks, while striking out eight. He threw 78 of 116 pitches for strikes.

Bailey left trailing 2-1, but the Reds scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth to get him the win.

Bailey, who has a 3.08 ERA, is expected to start Thursday against the Indians. 

Cubs starting pitcher Travis Wood saw his streak of nine straight quality starts to open the season end Saturday in a 5-2 loss to the Reds.

Wood allowed a run on three hits and two walks through the first five innings but seemed to run out of gas in the sixth. He walked the first batter then allowed four runs on four hits before being pulled.

He allowed five runs on seven hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings, while striking out five and throwing 69 of 115 pitches for strikes. Wood (4-3) takes a 2.73 ERA into his next start, Thursday against the White Sox. 

Giants starting pitcher Barry Zito surrendered four earned runs on seven hits and a walk in six innings Saturday against the Rockies. He struck out three and finishing the extra-innings game with a no-decision.

Zito hasn't won in his last six starts, but Saturday's game was a decent bounce-back for the lefty after he gave up 10 earned runs on 23 hits in 11 1/3 innings over his previous two starts. He'll face the A's at home Thursday.